The upcoming dramedy Baby Shower, written and directed by Nigerian filmmaker Precious Asuai, was inspired by his encounter with Minna Davies’ stage play of the same title.
Asuai recalls an immediate connection with the play. As someone drawn to single-location stories, he found Baby Shower particularly compelling because of how its conversations, friendship, humour, tension, secrets and suspense unfold around a baby shower over the course of a day.
“Ever since I saw the play for the first time, I knew I had to make it into a movie. Years passed, and that thought never left me. I’m glad to have finally been able to bring that thought to fruition,” he said.
In adapting Baby Shower for the screen, Asuai tells TNR that finding actors who could embody their characters naturally was important because the story depends heavily on conversations and interactions.
For the lead character Amanda, played by Amanda Oruh, the filmmaker said the actress understood both the character and his expectations for the role.
“Amanda actually shares the same name as her character, which was quite interesting,” he said.
Maryann Amakor and Imoh Eboh, who appeared in Davies’ earlier stage production, also reprised their roles in the film. According to Asuai, their familiarity with the characters and their relationships provided a useful foundation for the adaptation.
“They were also actors I felt were right for the film, and having them reprise those roles gave us a good foundation to work from. It made a lot of sense to have them bring that experience into the film,” he said.
The casting process was more challenging for the roles of Bunmi and Hakeem, played by Wendy Lawal and Eronini Osinachim. Despite working with the actors for the first time, Asuai described the collaboration as smooth and productive.
He also credited the cast and crew for their commitment to the production, particularly while working within a limited budget.
“They were willing to give their best and work with what we had, and that meant a lot to me, especially because we didn’t have the biggest budget to work with. I think that commitment really helped the film,” he said.
Asuai said he is conscious of how his films eventually reach audiences and understands why filmmakers may wait for the right distribution deal. However, he believes that route only works when the right opportunity becomes available.
For Baby Shower, he and his team initially explored that option by reaching out to distributors.
“We reached out to distributors with the hope of securing a distribution deal, but unfortunately, none of those conversations worked out,” he said.
That experience eventually led the team to choose YouTube as the film’s release platform, allowing them to make the film available to audiences rather than continue waiting for a distribution opportunity.
Asuai considers Baby Shower, which he describes as a contained story, a significant project in his filmography because it is his first feature-length film built around one continuous story.
“My first feature, Something Special, was an anthology of three short stories, so Baby Shower is the first time I’m telling one story from beginning to end in a feature-length film,” he said.
The filmmaker added that he is particularly interested in making films that feel natural and relatable, something he hopes audiences will experience with Baby Shower.
“It’s a movie with an ending I hope audiences won’t see coming. I hope they connect with the characters, enjoy the experience and leave the film wanting more,” he said.
Baby Shower follows Amanda, who grapples with the possibility that she may be pregnant while preparing to throw a surprise baby shower for her friend. What begins as an afternoon of laughter, games, heartfelt conversations and celebration gradually gives way to emotional tension as secrets begin to come to light.
Baby Shower is set to debut on YouTube on September 28.